The Lunette with St. Thomas Becket at the Sacro Speco in Subiaco: An Unexpected Presence?

The painting with St. Thomas Becket, Stephen and Nicholas of Bari that decorates one the lunettes in so-called lower church at Sacro Speco Subiaco is an enigma from art-historical point view, for two reasons. First, on iconographical level, lunette interrupts flow story Benedict’s life unfolding systematically all walls church. Second, formal fresco clearly presents more archaic features than surrounding Stories Benedict, dating to end thirteenth/beginning fourteenth century, was therefore probably executed a phase prior cycle Benedict. In paper, therefore, I will analyse motivations led preservation this when hall renovated later redecorated late thirteenth discuss hypotheses patronage. Both aspects help better contextualize reasons presence image Becket pre-eminent position sanctuary Benedict Subiaco, papal bulwark borders Kingdom.